• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2017

In addition to its typical use for skin rejuvenation, fractional laser irradiation of early cancerous lesions may reduce the risk of tumor development as a byproduct of wound healing in the stroma after the controlled injury. While fractional ablative lasers are commonly used for cosmetic/aesthetic purposes (e.g., photorejuvenation, hair removal, and scar reduction), we propose a novel use of such laser treatments as a stromal treatment to delay tumorigenesis and suppress carcinogenesis. In this study, we found that non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) irradiation may have a possible suppressive effect on early tumor growth in syngeneic mouse tumor models. We included two syngeneic mouse tumor models in irradiation groups and control groups. In the irradiation group, a thulium fiber based NAFL at 1927 nm was used to irradiate the skin area including the tumor injection region with 70 mJ/spot, while no laser irradiation was applied to the control group. Numerical simulation with the same experimental condition showed that thermal damage was confined only to the irradiation spots, sparing the adjacent tissue area. The irradiation groups of both tumor models showed smaller tumor volumes than the control group at an early tumor growth stage. We also detected elevated inflammatory cytokine levels a day after the NAFL irradiation. NAFL treatment of the stromal tissue could potentially be an alternative anticancer therapeutic modality for early tumorigenesis in a minimally invasive manner.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.97-109
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• 2019

Degree days have been determined using temperature data measured at nearby weather stations to a site of interest to produce information for supporting decision-making on agricultural production. Alternatively, the data products of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) can be used for estimation of degree days in a given region, e.g., Korean Peninsula. The objective of this study was to develop a simple tool for processing the MODIS product for estimating cooling degree days (CDD), which would help assessment of heat stress conditions for a crop as well as energy requirement for greenhouses. A set of scripts written in R was implemented to obtain temperature profile data for the region of interest. These scripts had functionalities for processing spatial data, which include reprojection, mosaicking, and cropping. A module to extract air temperature at the surface pressure level was also developed using R extension packages such as rgdal and RcppArmadillo. Random forest (RF) models, which estimate mean temperature and CDD with a different set of MODIS data, were trained at 34 sites in South Korea during 2009 - 2018. Then, the values of CDD were calculated over Korean peninsula during the same period using those RF models. It was found that the CDD estimates using the MODIS data explained >74% of the variation in the CDD measurements at the weather stations in North Korea as well as South Korea. These results indicate that temperature data derived from the MODIS atmospheric products would be useful for reliable estimation of CDD. Our results also suggest that the MODIS data can be used for preparation of weather input data for other temperature-based agro-ecological models such as growing degree days or chill units.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.253-266
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• 2020

The extended slip-weakening model was investigated by using a compiled set of source-spectrum-related parameters, i.e. seismic moment M_o, S-wave velocity V_s, corner-frequency f_c, and source-controlled high-cut frequency fmax, for 113 shallow crustal earthquakes (focal depth less than 25 km, M_W 3.0~7.5) that occurred in Japan from 1987 to 2016. The investigation was focused on the characteristics of stress drop, radiation energy-to-seismic moment ratio, radiation efficiency, and fracture energy release rate, G_c. The scaling relationships of those source parameters were also investigated and compared with those in previous studies, which were based on generally used singular models with the dimensionless numbers corresponding to f_c given by Brune and Madariaga. The results showed that the stress drop from the singular model with Madariaga's dimensionless number was equivalent to the breakdown stress drop, as well as Brune's effective stress, rather than to static stress drop as has been usually assumed. The scale dependence of stress drop showed a different tendency in accordance with the size category of the earthquakes, which may be divided into small-moderate earthquakes and moderate-large earthquakes by comparing to M_o = 10¹⁷~10¹⁸ Nm. The scale dependence was quite similar to that shown by Kanamori and Rivera. The scale dependence was not because of a poor dynamic range of recorded signals or missing data as asserted by Ide and Beroza, but rather it was because of the scale dependent V_r-induced local similarity of spectrum as shown in a previous study by the authors. The energy release rate G_c with respect to breakdown distance D_c from the extended slip-weakening model coincided with that given by Ellsworth and Beroza in a study on the rupture nucleation phase; and the empirical relationship given by Abercrombie and Rice can represent the results from the extended slip-weakening model, the results from laboratory stick-slip experiments by Ohnaka, and the results given by Ellsworth and Beroza simultaneously. Also the energy flux into the breakdown zone was well correlated with the breakdown stress drop, ${\tilde{e}}$ and peak slip velocity of the fault faces. Consequently, the investigation results indicate the appropriateness of the extended slip-weakening model.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.137-159
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• 2015

This longitudinal study examined the influence of substandard housing conditions and housing affordability on physical and mental health. Using data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study, this study followed 8,583 adults who continued to participate in the survey from 2009 to 2013. Multivariate analyses involved linear and logistic regression models with the hybrid method that incorporates both fixed and random effects. Results show that substandard housing conditions and excess housing cost burden had significant adverse effects on adults' mental health (e.g., depressive symptoms). About one fourth of the entire sample and one third of those in poverty reported having lived in substandard housing conditions. Additionally, nearly one fourth of those in poverty reported having experienced excess housing cost burden, which is 4 times greater than that of the entire sample. Our findings show that a substantial proportion of individuals, particularly among the poor, have a difficulty in accessing to decent, affordable housing, and that housing assistance may have additional benefits of improving the mental health of individuals with housing issues.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.447-463
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• 1991

Petrological and chemical studies of Precambrian dikes in the southern Lake Superior region were conducted with the objects of evaluating magma source and constraining models for the paleo-tectonic environment. Forty-six samples were analyzed for major, trace, and rare earth elements. Chemical data of the studied dikes are typical of continental tholeiites and showing iron-enrichment fractionation trend. With wallrock contamination carefully evaluated, a series of tectonic discriminating methods utilizing immobile trace elements indicate that the source magma was a high-Ti tholeiitic basalt similar to present-day T-type MORB. Effect of chemical contamination from wallrock assimilation accmulates with increasing differentiation. Evolved rocks show LREE enriched patterns and have enhanced levels of LIL elements (e.g., Rb, K, Ba, Th), but low levels of high field strength elements (e.g., Nb, P, Ti) with respect to their neighboring elements. It is suggested from this study that this enrichment possibly due to a combination of a feature inherited from the subcontinental lithosphere and crustal contamination. Geochemical signatures of these rocks are distinctively different from those of arc-related volcanics. Comparisons with chemistries of modern magmas show a pattern of overlap between Within-plate and ocean-floor characteristics, and chemical signatures of these rocks favor a model of intrusion into a crustal environment undergoing lithospheric attenuation.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.189-198
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• 2020

Wetlands, which provide various ecological services, have been regarded as an important nature-based solution for, for example, sustainable water quality improvement and buffering of impacts from climate change. Although the importance of conserving wetlands to reduce the impacts of various perturbations (e.g., changes of land use, climate, and hydrology) has been acknowledged, the possibility of applying these efforts as a nature-based solution in a macro-scale (e.g., landscape) has been insufficient. In this study, we examine the possibility of ecological network analysis that provides an engineering solution as a nature-based solution. Specifically, we analyzed how land use change affects the structural and functional characteristics (connectivity, network efficiency, and clustering coefficient) of the ecological networks by using the ecological networks generated by multiple dispersal models of the hypothetical inhabiting species in wetlandscape. Changes in ecological network characteristics were analyzed through simultaneously removing wetlands, with two initial conditions for surface area, in the zones where land use change occurs. We set a total number of four zones of land use change with different wetland densities. All analyses showed that mean degree and network efficiency were significantly reduced when wetlands in the zones with high wetland density were removed, and this phenomenon was intensified especially when zones contained hubs (nodes with high degree). On the other hand, we observed the clustering coefficient to increase. We suggest our approach for assessing the impacts of land use change on ecological networks, and with additional analysis on betweenness centrality, we expect it can provide a nature-based engineering solution for creating alternative wetlands.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.89-100
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• 2004

The comet assay (also called the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay) has been widely used for detecting DNA damage and repair in individual cells. Since the conventional methods of evaluating comet assay data using frequency statistics are unsatisfactory we developed a new quantitative measure of DNA damage/repair that is based on all information residing in the dose/time-response curves of a comet experiment. Blood samples were taken from 25 breast cancer patients before undergoing radiotherapy. The comet assay was performed under alkaline conditions using isolated lymphocytes. Tail DNA, tail length, tail moment and tail inertia of the comet were measured for each patient at four doses of $\gamma$-rays (0, 2, 4 and 8 Gy) and at four time points after irradiation (0, 10, 20 and 30 min) using 100 cells each. The resulting three-dimensional dose-time response surface was modeled by multiple regression, and the second derivative, termed 2D, on dose and time was determined. A software module was programmed in SAS/AF to compute 2D values. We applied the new method successfully to data obtained from cancer patients to be assessed for their radiation sensitivity. We computed the 2D values for the four damage measures, i.e., tail moment, tail length, tail DNA and tail inertia, and examined the pairwise correlation coefficients of 2D both on the log scale and the unlogged scale. 2D values based on tail moment and tail DNA showed a high correlation and, therefore, these two damage measures can be used interchangeably as far as DNA repair is concerned. 2D values based on tail inertia have a correlation profile different from the other 2D values which may reflect different facets of DNA damage/repair. Using the dose-time response surface, other statistical models, e.g., the proportional hazards model, become applicable for data analysis. The 2D approach can be applied to all DNA repair measures, Le., tail moment, tail length, tail DNA and tail inertia, and appears to be superior to conventional evaluation methods as it integrates all data of the dose/time-response curves of a comet assay.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.227-232
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• 2016

To test the effectiveness of using an energy storage system for frequency regulation, the Energy New Business Laboratory at KEPCO Research Institute installed a 4 MW energy storage system (ESS) demonstration facility at the Jocheon Substation on Jeju Island. And after the successful completion of demonstration operations, a total of 52 MW ESS for frequency regulation was installed in Seo-Anseong (28 MW, governor-free control) and in Shin-Yongin (24 MW, automatic generation control). The control system used in these two sites was based on the control system developed for the 4 MW ESS demonstration facility. KEPCO recently finished the construction of 184 MW ESS for frequency regulation in 8 locations, (e.g. Shin-Gimjae substation, Shin-Gaeryong substation, etc.) and they are currently being tested for automatic operation. KEPCO plans to construct additional ESS facilities (up to a total of about 500 MW for frequency regulation by 2017), thus, various operational tests would first have to be conducted. The high-speed characteristic of ESS can negatively impact the power system in case the 500 MW ESS is not properly operated. At this stage we need to verify how effectively the 500 MW ESS can regulate frequency. In this paper, the effect of using ESS for frequency regulation on the power system of Korea was studied. Simulations were conducted to determine the effect of using a 524 MW ESS for frequency regulation. Models of the power grid and the ESS were developed to verify the performance of the operation system and its control system. When a high capacity power plant is tripped, a 24 MW ESS supplies power automatically and 4 units of 125MW ESS supply power manually. This study only focuses on transient state analysis. It was verified that 500 MW ESS can regulate system frequency faster and more effectively than conventional power plants. Also, it was verified that time-delayed high speed operations of multiple ESS facilities do not negatively impact power system operations. It is recommended that further testing be conducted for a fleet of multiple ESSs with different capacities distributed over multiple substations (e.g. 16, 24, 28, and 48 MW ESS distributed across 20 substations) because each ESS measures frequency individually. The operation of one ESS facility will differ from the other ESSs within the fleet, and may negatively impact the performance of the others. The following are also recommended: (a) studies wherein all ESSs should be operated in automatic mode; (b) studies on the improvement of individual ESS control; and (c) studies on the reapportionment of all ESS energies within the fleet.

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-117
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• 2020

Analysis of combat effectiveness is required to consider the concept of tactical cooperative engagement between manned-unmanned weapon systems, in order to predict the required operational capabilities of future weapon systems that meets the concept of 'effect-based synchronized operations.' However, analytical methods such as mathematical and statistical models make it difficult to analyze the effects of complex systems under nonlinear warfare. In this paper, we propose a combat simulation model that can simulate the concept of cooperative engagement between manned-unmanned combat entities based on wireless communications. First, we model unmanned combat entities, e.g., unmanned ground vehicles and drones, and manned combat entities, e.g., combatants and artillery, considering the capabilities required by the future ground system. We also simulate tactical behavior in which all entities perform their mission while sharing battlefield situation information through wireless communications. Finally we explore the feasibility of the proposed model by analyzing combat effectiveness such as target acquisition rate, remote control success rate, reconnaissance lead time, survival rate, and enemy's loss rate under a small-unit armor reconnaissance scenario. The proposed model is expected to be used in war-game combat experiments as well as analysis of the effects of manned-unmanned ground weapons.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.246-251
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• 2017

Crop models have been used to predict a heading date for efficient management of fertilizer application. Recently, the ORYZA (v3) model was developed to improve the ORYZA2000 model, which has been used for simulation of rice growth in Korea. Still, little effort has been made to assess applicability of the ORYZA (v3) model to rice farms in Korea. The objective of this study was to evaluate reliability of heading dates predicted using the the ORYZA (v3) model, which would indicate applicability of the model to a decision support system for fertilizer application. Field experiments were conducted from 2015-2016 at the Rural Development Administration (RDA) to obtain rice phenology data. Shindongjin cultivar which is mid-late maturity type was grown under a conventional fertilizer management, e.g., application of fertilizer at the rate of 11 Kg N/10a. Another set of heading dates was obtained from annual reports at experiment farms operated by the National Institute of Crop Science and Agricultural Technology Centers in each province. The input files for the ORYZA (v3) model were prepared using weather and soil data collected from the Korean Meteorology Administration (KMA) and the Korean Soil Information System, respectively. Input parameters for crop management, e.g., transplanting date and planting density, were set to represent management used for the field experiment. The ORYZA (v3) model predicted heading date within 1 day for two seasons. The crop model also had a relatively small error in prediction of heading date for three ecotypes of rice cultivars at experiment farms where weather input data were obtained from a near-by weather station. Those results suggested that the ORYZA (v3) model would be useful for development of a decision support system for fertilizer application when reliable input data for weather variables become available.